Durdle Door Engagement photography

Durdle Door is an iconic gem of a landscape along the Jurassic Coast in Dorset. As a location for an engagement shoot or engagement photography session, it is simply magical, with so many options to incorporate the breath-taking Jurassic limestone cliffs, the shingle beach and the deep blue sea.

I have provided engagement photography at Durdle Door many times, and know it well, the best times for sunrise and sunset, and importantly, the best times to consider to avoid the crowds, as the less people are there, the more it feels like it is just the two of you, and that is one of the joys of an engagement shoot. I particularly love winter, with beautiful low sunlight all day, a crisp bite in the air, and dramatic rolling waves on the beach. But there is also a lot to be said for wandering barefoot on a balmy summer evening too.

There are numerous angles for photography at Durdle Door, with framing in the arch, wandering on the beach, climbing the steps, snuggling amongst the white and black contrast of the caves, or wandering the meadows above.  Throw in some wonderful light, and you are guaranteed amazing photographs! Here are a few of my favourite images from recent Durdle Door engagement photography sessions. And feel free to read on further if you are interested in the geology of Durdle Door!

Durdle Door geology

I studied geology, and have always been fascinated by the landscape, and I draw this in to my photography. The arch itself is formed as part of a concordant rock structure, whereby the layers of sedimentary have rotated 90 degrees over time, and run vertically. The arch is formed from a band of harder Portland Limestone (The same from which St Paul’s Cathedral was built), in a layer which is thought to be 140 million years old. Behind this harder layer is the softer clay which has been eroded to leave the beach, with the next vertical layer being the harder chalk, which forms the cliffs. A weakness in the limestone then lend to the erosion of the arch in the long wall that was left behind in the sea. This is of course eroding over time, and the door won’t be around for ever. And as for the name, it derives from the old English word Thurl, which means to pierce or drill a hole.

If you are planning to get married near Durdle Door or the nearby Lulworth Cove or Lulworth Castle, or are looking for a photographer for an engagement shoot at Durdle Door, please give me a shout!